Bob and Sue Hoy of Marketplace IGA were awarded the top prize of business of the year at the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Sunshine Coast Credit Union at the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club on Nov. 18.
Sechelt Chamber of Commerce president Kim Darwin called the event a “major success,” with over 130 guests in attendance.
“When we started out we thought it was going to be a small event, but the community totally pitched in,” Darwin said. “We had 245 nomination submissions. Some of them were duplicates, but I would say there was a minimum of 200 that weren’t.”
Out of those nominations, 13 businesses took home awards:
• Business of the Year – Marketplace IGA
• Community Impact – Duane Burnett
• Customer Service – Fossello’s
• Home Based – Head Start Public Speaking for Kids
• Manufacturing – Coastal Craft
• Non Profit – Habitat for Humanity
• Professional Service – Coastal Wedding
• Rising Star – Pacific Ferries
• Sustainability –Gibsons Recycling Depot
• Tech & innovation – Central Coast Concrete
• Tourism and Hospitality – Coast Gravity Park
• Trade – West Coast Log Homes
• Young Entrepreneur – Blissful Yoga
Peter Rive, IGA grocery manager, accepted the award for business of the year on behalf of Bob and Sue Hoy, owner/operators of Marketplace IGA stores in Gibsons and Wilson Creek.
“It is Bob and Sue who won this award and I think it’s just because of the atmosphere the store has, it’s got a vibe to it,” Rive said. “It starts at the top and everything comes down from there. Bob is a real fun guy, both have a great sense of humour and they keep work light. It’s not a heavy job, there’s so much fun being had every day, it’s always good times.”
Gibsons Recycling Depot – currently owned by Buddy Boyd and Barb Heth-erington – won the award for sustainability.
“I’m really honoured to receive the award,” Hetherington said. “It’s our passion. We will continue in this field, but it’s time for us to pass the baton.”
Sustainability consultant Erich Schwartz accepted the award for sustainability on behalf of Boyd and Hetherington. Schwartz is leading an effort to raise money to buy the depot and run it as a community asset.
“Barb and Buddy have laid a very, very firm foundation. I’m here on their behalf,” Schwartz said. “They’ve sold the land, they’re selling the business, but they’ve laid the foundation. I’ve been busily working around in the background, talking with municipal governments … and we want to take Gibsons Recycling Depot to the next level and that’s where we’re at now.”
Georgia Cyr, owner of Blissful Yoga in Sechelt, received the young entrepreneur award. Cyr started her business at 24, which she said is not that common on the Coast.
“It feels very nice to be recognized, especially in a community where not a lot of 24 year olds start businesses. Or at least not back when I was 24,” Cyr said. “I try to contribute to the community in a lot of ways, not just through my business but through actually supporting the community, supporting the environment, supporting youth.”
Blissful Yoga began in 2010 and opened its first storefront in 2012. Cyr is active with the Jellyfish Project and also works with school groups to introduce youth to yoga.
“We also have an amazing community. I think Blissful Yoga is that community. It’s not just me, but it’s all the people,” Cyr said. “So thank you.”
Pacific Ferries won the rising star award, accepted by director of operations Linda Feuerhelm.
“I just want to say thanks to the Chamber, a huge thanks because it was only two weeks ago that we found out that we’re the longest running passenger ferry on the Sunshine Coast,” Feuerhelm said. “If you want any idea of what kind of tenacity it takes to run a passenger ferry – come talk to me.”
